achievement in this research supported the findings reported in the related literature both from different
countries and Turkey in every level and field of education (Meyer, 1997; Bağcı et al., 2005; Aladağ, 2005;
Gültekin, 2005; Chen, 2006; Çırak, 2006; Çiftçi, 2006; Özdemir, 2006; Sylvester, 2007; Kemaloğlu, 2006;
Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap, 2009; Baş and Beyhan, 2010). For example, Çırak (2006) investigated the
effects of project-based learning in an elementary English lesson. She organised her second grade classroom in
an elementary school and the teaching materials with the principles of project-based learning. The data revealed
that, at the end of treatment of the study carried out by Çırak (2006), the students in the experimental group
outperformed than the students in the control group where traditional instruction methods were used.
Furthermore, Meyer (1997) studied fourteen fifth and sixth grade students‘ challenge seeking during projectbased
mathematics instruction in a classroom. He drew on five areas of research: academic risk taking,
achievement goals, self-efficacy, volition, and effect. He reported on the effects of fifth and sixth grade students‘
motivation and that although the surveys were useful in characterizing general patterns of challenge seeking,
more individual and contextualized information was necessary for understanding how to support students
engaged in challenging academic work, such as project-based learning. According to the results obtained both
from the related literature and this study, it can be possibly said that project-based learning increased the
students‘ academic achievement levels positively. However, in the studies carried out by Demirel et al. (2000)
and Yurtluk (2003), no change was observed in the academic achievement levels of students both in the
experimental and the control groups in relation with the use of project-based learning in the experimental group.
In terms of the attitude towards English course, there was a significant difference between the
experimental and the control groups. As presented in the pre-test findings of English lesson attitude of students,
TOJNED : The Online Journal Of New Horizons In Education - October 2011, Volume 1, Issue 4
Copyright © TOJNED www.tojned.net
10
there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of their attitudes
towards English lesson. The findings of post-test at the end of the four-week implementation, however, indicate
that the experimental group performed better than the control group. In other words, the students who were
educated by project-based learning had more positive attitudes towards English lesson than those who were
educated by the instruction based on student textbooks. Erdem and Akkoyunlu (2002), Aladağ (2005), Gültekin
(2005), Çiftçi (2006), Özdemir (2006), Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap (2009) and Baş and Beyhan (2010)
carried out studies by project-based learning in different learning atmospheres. They explored students‘ attitudes
towards courses by project-based learning. In their studies, they found that there was a significant difference in
the attitude levels towards the lesson between the groups, which project-based learning (experimental group) and
the other group for which the instruction based on student textbooks (control group) were used. The students
who were educated by project-based learning had developed more positive attitudes towards the lesson than the
students who were educated by the instruction based on student textbooks. These results resemble to the result of
this study. It can be said based on the findings; project-based learning was more effective on the development of
students‘ attitudes towards lesson than the instruction based on student textbooks. However, Demirel et al. (2000)
and Yurtluk (2003) investigated the effects of project-based learning approach on learning process and learners‘
attitudes. In their researches, it was found that there was no significant difference between pre- and post-test
results of attitude scale in control and experimental groups.
On the other hand, Tretten and Zachariou (1995), Korkmaz (2002), Çiftçi (2006) and Özdemir (2006)
found out in their studies that students who were educated by project-based learning method were more
successful in problem solving skills, self-esteem, interest in topics, work habits, communication, motivation,
academic risk taking and creative thinking skills. On the results of these studies, it can be said that project-based
learning method not only has more positive effects on students‘ academic achievement levels and attitudes
towards the lesson, it has also more positive effects on students‘ academic risk taking, problem solving and
creative thinking skills. According to Blank (1997), Çınar et al. (2005) and Çiftçi and Sünbül (2006), students in
the project-based learning atmosphere are exposed to a wide range of skills and competencies such as
collaboration, project planning, decision making, critical thinking and time management. Collaborative learning
allows students to bounce ideas off each other, voice their own opinions, and negotiate solutions - all skills that
will be necessary in the workplace. As Özdemir (2006) states, a project-based learning lesson provides students
with the opportunity to learn in an authentic, challenging, multidisciplinary environment, to learn how to design,
carry out, and evaluate a project that requires sustained effort over a significant period of time, to learn to work
with minimal external guidance, both individually and in groups, to gain in self-reliance and personal
accountability. As Eryılmaz (2004) stated, via peer instruction, such as in project-based learning, students can
develop their academic achievements and attitudes since interaction between group members in a social context
is essential for learning as proposed in social constructive theory and context are important to understand what
occurs in society and to construct knowledge (Derry, 1999). Meanwhile, it is suggested that teachers should
group the students together whenever and wherever possible (Scott and Ytreberg, 1990). Students enter into a
friendly competition with other groups during project works and pay effort in order to be successful. As a result
of their achievements, they feel the happiness and excitement of achieving something. At the same time,
TOJNED : The Online Journal Of New Horizons In Education - October 2011, Volume 1, Issue 4
Copyright © TOJNED www.tojned.net
11
students feel the pleasure of producing something and displaying something different, which in turn makes them
feel valuable, skilful and knowledgeable. In that way, it can be said that their self-confidence and feeling of
competence for next project tasks is improved. It can be a contribution to turn to positive academic
achievements and attitudes of students towards lesson (Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap, 2009).
Creating products with the work put into the study increased the students‘ academic achievement levels
achievement in this research supported the findings reported in the related literature both from different
countries and Turkey in every level and field of education (Meyer, 1997; Bağcı et al., 2005; Aladağ, 2005;
Gültekin, 2005; Chen, 2006; Çırak, 2006; Çiftçi, 2006; Özdemir, 2006; Sylvester, 2007; Kemaloğlu, 2006;
Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap, 2009; Baş and Beyhan, 2010). For example, Çırak (2006) investigated the
effects of project-based learning in an elementary English lesson. She organised her second grade classroom in
an elementary school and the teaching materials with the principles of project-based learning. The data revealed
that, at the end of treatment of the study carried out by Çırak (2006), the students in the experimental group
outperformed than the students in the control group where traditional instruction methods were used.
Furthermore, Meyer (1997) studied fourteen fifth and sixth grade students‘ challenge seeking during projectbased
mathematics instruction in a classroom. He drew on five areas of research: academic risk taking,
achievement goals, self-efficacy, volition, and effect. He reported on the effects of fifth and sixth grade students‘
motivation and that although the surveys were useful in characterizing general patterns of challenge seeking,
more individual and contextualized information was necessary for understanding how to support students
engaged in challenging academic work, such as project-based learning. According to the results obtained both
from the related literature and this study, it can be possibly said that project-based learning increased the
students‘ academic achievement levels positively. However, in the studies carried out by Demirel et al. (2000)
and Yurtluk (2003), no change was observed in the academic achievement levels of students both in the
experimental and the control groups in relation with the use of project-based learning in the experimental group.
In terms of the attitude towards English course, there was a significant difference between the
experimental and the control groups. As presented in the pre-test findings of English lesson attitude of students,
TOJNED : The Online Journal Of New Horizons In Education - October 2011, Volume 1, Issue 4
Copyright © TOJNED www.tojned.net
10
there was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of their attitudes
towards English lesson. The findings of post-test at the end of the four-week implementation, however, indicate
that the experimental group performed better than the control group. In other words, the students who were
educated by project-based learning had more positive attitudes towards English lesson than those who were
educated by the instruction based on student textbooks. Erdem and Akkoyunlu (2002), Aladağ (2005), Gültekin
(2005), Çiftçi (2006), Özdemir (2006), Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap (2009) and Baş and Beyhan (2010)
carried out studies by project-based learning in different learning atmospheres. They explored students‘ attitudes
towards courses by project-based learning. In their studies, they found that there was a significant difference in
the attitude levels towards the lesson between the groups, which project-based learning (experimental group) and
the other group for which the instruction based on student textbooks (control group) were used. The students
who were educated by project-based learning had developed more positive attitudes towards the lesson than the
students who were educated by the instruction based on student textbooks. These results resemble to the result of
this study. It can be said based on the findings; project-based learning was more effective on the development of
students‘ attitudes towards lesson than the instruction based on student textbooks. However, Demirel et al. (2000)
and Yurtluk (2003) investigated the effects of project-based learning approach on learning process and learners‘
attitudes. In their researches, it was found that there was no significant difference between pre- and post-test
results of attitude scale in control and experimental groups.
On the other hand, Tretten and Zachariou (1995), Korkmaz (2002), Çiftçi (2006) and Özdemir (2006)
found out in their studies that students who were educated by project-based learning method were more
successful in problem solving skills, self-esteem, interest in topics, work habits, communication, motivation,
academic risk taking and creative thinking skills. On the results of these studies, it can be said that project-based
learning method not only has more positive effects on students‘ academic achievement levels and attitudes
towards the lesson, it has also more positive effects on students‘ academic risk taking, problem solving and
creative thinking skills. According to Blank (1997), Çınar et al. (2005) and Çiftçi and Sünbül (2006), students in
the project-based learning atmosphere are exposed to a wide range of skills and competencies such as
collaboration, project planning, decision making, critical thinking and time management. Collaborative learning
allows students to bounce ideas off each other, voice their own opinions, and negotiate solutions - all skills that
will be necessary in the workplace. As Özdemir (2006) states, a project-based learning lesson provides students
with the opportunity to learn in an authentic, challenging, multidisciplinary environment, to learn how to design,
carry out, and evaluate a project that requires sustained effort over a significant period of time, to learn to work
with minimal external guidance, both individually and in groups, to gain in self-reliance and personal
accountability. As Eryılmaz (2004) stated, via peer instruction, such as in project-based learning, students can
develop their academic achievements and attitudes since interaction between group members in a social context
is essential for learning as proposed in social constructive theory and context are important to understand what
occurs in society and to construct knowledge (Derry, 1999). Meanwhile, it is suggested that teachers should
group the students together whenever and wherever possible (Scott and Ytreberg, 1990). Students enter into a
friendly competition with other groups during project works and pay effort in order to be successful. As a result
of their achievements, they feel the happiness and excitement of achieving something. At the same time,
TOJNED : The Online Journal Of New Horizons In Education - October 2011, Volume 1, Issue 4
Copyright © TOJNED www.tojned.net
11
students feel the pleasure of producing something and displaying something different, which in turn makes them
feel valuable, skilful and knowledgeable. In that way, it can be said that their self-confidence and feeling of
competence for next project tasks is improved. It can be a contribution to turn to positive academic
achievements and attitudes of students towards lesson (Yalçın, Turgut and Büyükkasap, 2009).
Creating products with the work put into the study increased the students‘ academic achievement levels
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